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FARMVILLE, Va. - Freshman Sydney Gay posted a nine strikeout performance and pitched a two-hitter in the opening game of the day, as the Longwood softball team split a midweek doubleheader against Virginia Wednesday afternoon at Lancer Field.

The Lancers (13-9) captured their fourth straight win in game one with a 7-1 final, before Virginia (9-22) plated five runs in the final three innings to take the nightcap, 6-3. The loss halts a four-game win streak for the Lancers.

"We did a lot of things well in the first game today," said head coach Kathy Riley. "We were able to pitch well, hit, run the bases and were real aggressive, while doing a solid job defensively.

"In the second game, we started out well and just tailed off. The last three innings, we didn't have many good at-bats and defensively we could've played better in a couple of spots."

Gay, a product from Carrollton, Va., was phenomenal in the circle in her sixth start of the season in game one, posting a season-high nine strikeouts in a complete-game two-hitter. The rookie right-hander took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, before that was broken up with two away in the inning. She allowed just one unearned run on two hits and a walk, while facing 26 batters and throwing 92 pitches, 69 for strikes.

"Sydney gave us a really nice performance," Riley said. "I thought she had a good curveball and riseball and was able to effectively spot her pitches."

With her performance, Gay saw her ERA drop from 2.28 to start the day to 1.98, as she moves into first place in the Big South with the league's lone sub-2.00 ERA.

At the plate, Longwood was led by Carly Adams who was 5-for-8 throughout the day with three RBI and a pair of runs scored. She was one of five Lancers with multiple hits on the afternoon and extended her hitting streak to six games. Krista Kelly (3-for-5), Emily Murphy (3-for-7), Glenn Walters (2-for-5) and Kelsey Sweeney (2-for-7) also each had a multi-hit day.

Longwood looks to bounce back and keep its Big South win streak alive, as the Lancers travel to Charleston Southern for a three-game series against the Buccaneers. The opening game is set for 3 p.m., Friday, March 25, with a doubleheader set for Saturday at 1 p.m.

Longwood 7, Virginia 1



Gay posted a season-high nine strikeout performance, as she was backed by a Longwood offense that posted 10 hits en route to a 7-1 victory over Virginia in the opening game of the afternoon.

The Longwood freshman recorded her third game of the season with seven-plus strikeouts, matching Elizabeth McCarthy's nine-strikeout performance from earlier in the season against Monmouth. Gay threatened with the no-hit bid, going 5.2 innings before yielding her first hit of the day to Danni Ingraham.

Gay was also effective in getting the leadoff batters out, as she didn't allow a single baserunner with less than two out in the game.

"Before the game, I talked with [assistant coach] Kayla [Miller] and she told me that they're an aggressive team and swung a lot," Gay said. "I threw inside and was able to keep the ball down in the zone, while working from ahead in the count."

At the plate, Adams and Murphy combined to go 6-for-7 with four RBI and three runs scored. For Adams, it marked her second straight 3-for-4 performance, as she knocked in a pair of Longwood batters. Meanwhile, both Murphy and Adams extend their hitting streak to five straight games.

Kelsey Sweeney also had a multi-hit performance, as she went 2-for-3 with her second home run in the past three games.

Erika Osherow (6-14) took the loss for the Cavaliers, giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits, while walking one batter and recording a pair of strikeouts. She went 2.1 innings before being relieved by Allison Davis, who gave up three runs on three hits and a pair of walks.

Virginia 6, Longwood 3



Virginia's Ingraham hit the game-winning home run in the top of the seventh inning, as the Cavaliers scored five unanswered runs in the final three innings to win game two of the doubleheader, 6-3.

Ingraham finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate, hitting her fourth home run with one out in the seventh inning to straight away center field to ultimately give Virginia the game-winning run.

Ingraham was part of a trio of Virginia batters with multiple hits, as Kaitlin Fitzgerald, Katie Park and Ingraham combined to go 6-for-11 while making up the heart of the Virginia batting order.

Lacy Smith (2-5) went the distance in the circle, allowing three runs on eight hits while walking a pair of batters.

Jenna Carnes (1-1) took the loss for Longwood, coming on in relief of McCarthy to pitch the last two innings. She gave up three runs, one earned, on two hits and three walks. Meanwhile, McCarthy received a no decision in the outing, going 5.0 innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits while walking a pair and striking out a trio of batters.

Adams and Kelly, who got her first career start in right field and has now started in five different positions this season, each had a multi-hit game. Adams went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, while Kelly posted a 2-for-3 performance with a double.

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